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In the morning of may second, 19 68 at 12 man special forces reconnaissance team was inserted by helicopters in the dense jungle area West of luck in Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North vietnamese army. After a short period of time in the ground the team met heavy enemy resistance and requested emergency extraction three helicopters attempted extraction but were unable to land due to intense enemy, small arms and anti-aircraft fire sergeant Live business was at the forward operating base in black men monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters return to off load wounded crew members and to assess aircraft damage sergeant benefit as voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt realizing. That all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone. He directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled Eighteen prior to reaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg face and head and, despite these painful injuries, he took charge repositioning. The team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft and the loading of wounded and dead team. Members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position, despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy, fire he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft in Protective fire by running alongside the aircraft, as it moved to pick up the remaining team members as the enemy's fire intensified. He hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader when you reach the team leader's body sergeant innovators was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back nearly the same moment the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded and his helicopter crashed all in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds sergeant Ben innovators Secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter under increasing enemy, automatic weapons and grenade fire. He moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men re instill in them. A will to live and fight facing a buildup of enemy, opposition with a beleaguered team sergeant Ben innovators cost mustard his strength and began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt. He was And again inspired by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team, member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land is in damnable spirit kept him going as he began to carry his comrades to the craft on his second trip with the wounded. He was clubbed from behind by an enemy soldier and the ensuing hand-to-hand combat he sustained additional rooms to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter of on reaching the air Spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door. Gunner from firing upon them with little strength remaining. He made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed and to bring in the remaining wounded only there in serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft sergeant innovative gallon choice join voluntarily. His comrades who were in critical straits to expose himself Constantly to withering enemy, fire and his refusal to be stopped, despite numerous severe wounds saved. The lives of at least eight men is fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty and extremely valuable sections in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States army surgeon vanity. This another nation, great For to you and to all your comrades living and dead awards, you is highest symbol of gratitude for service above and beyond the call of duty the congressional medal of honor Thank you Thank you Thank you Need to that just like the famous Spanish and German doctor trim Japanese that And in French, I'm actually very cool. Thank you very much. I'd only speak those languages fluently but I never get lost in those countries ever ever go there. Thank you very much come in and around people for inviting me to come and be along with each other. Everyone speakers, how come from a little town named Texas. I would warn their took the capital of the world after the death of my mother and father had early my brother and I were adopted by uncle. We moved El campo Texas, town shot Best of Houston by 9 AM, I was raised, I went to school there. I work at our jobs when China and choose show papers pay cotton and, like a food drop out of school and I ran away from home I'm not proud of that. I need to learn the skill I needed an education Adopted father would tell me son and education and a diploma is the key to success bad habits and bad come in will run. you Well, I was too old to go back to school and in one return max oh join the Texas National guard and I, like, when I saw on man in uniform and I can't find it going to regular army. I needed education and learn the skill so I was accepted into the regular army and I heard about the airborne I heard about that extra pay them to get for jumping out of airplanes So that qualified to go to jump school Fort, benning Georgia, but the derrick roos never told me what the training was like for every mistake. That you make you do push ups and I can honestly tell you, ladies and gentlemen. I'm one of the guy that help put Georgia in the South Carolina doing push up Well, I finished my training, I've got the shine to well-known unit at Fort bragg North Carolina. They just can't do it Ilike data second thank you everyone all the way I'll be like that and so after a while there heard about the special forces you know as the Green grace and they were coming up by qualified to join this batch of course course ima linguistic we in the special forces are trained to operate deep behind enemy lines with no support at all we're training fire specialties I'm trying three operations intelligence, while earning oceanography meteorology, photography, I'm an interrogator listen. I'm training light and heavy weapons and cross train genetic I've been all over the world. The far East Europe, thousands of Central America and two tours and getting up. I was just trying to better than company and I've declared one time they're on Hispanic American nigga speak German with the southern action Feeling that with the temperature so I came back and retrain at Fort bragg and being um with growing up in 19 65. I was sent to Vietnam with an advisor to be in the same country unit have to short period of time. Their ice top of mine. How I woke up in the philippine islands in the clock care for space House paralyzed from the waist down. How declared unable to walk again how was transferred to four Sam Houston Texas, which pavilion The doctor who initiated medical discharge paper but at night I would slip out of bed and crying to your Wall using my elbows. My chin. My back, which should be killing me crime, but I get to the Wall and a set myself against the Wall and then I'm back myself up against the Wall and understand me black collage and the Indian standing move. My toes ride and left right every single chance. I better got I wanted to walk I want to go back to Vietnam because of what the new community was saying about us. Of our President, not needed there to burn the fine what and I saw a lot of other patients coming back, listen. I wanted to go back. I would determine cuz I remember when I was taught in jump school That old mattress starting with me benefited quitters never win and winners never quit. What are you So I'm gonna win and I remember my special boy And I remember my special forces training, one training to make sure that I was on Remember that money go tell me Faith, determination and a positive attitude, apart of attitude. What care you fucking ability you can do it. You can do it I'll never forget the words never so there was the night step out of bed. The nurses would catch with some time. That would suit me. Uh give me a pill sleeping pill put me to sleep. They would tell the doctors in the morning. I will determine the 19 months later here comes from a medical discharge paper and I told the doctor doctor look what I can do. He has started and I'm sorry, even if you can stand up you'll, never be able to walk. I just jumped out of bed and I stood up before my back was hurting and aching that was crying and I'm Just a little bit darker than many of you, walkout live room. I'll take care of the paper chef I'll walk out of that or B pavilion I walked out with the limp and went back to Fort bragg North Carolina iced started myself again run in five to 10 hours a day doing 15 hundred push up and I made three pairs. You jump from one day. I was ready to go back to be enough physically and mentally ready to go back. My owners were to go to Central America hidden advisory, but being an unconditional offer and, on some of the good officers in the right places, modern where diverted so So I went back to be known In 19 68 letter part of April, I wouldn't started my buddy night together intelligent information behind enemy lines And after today, on the ground, my body was shot through the eye. The back leg. How much you must complete, but I didn't wanna leave my buddy behind icon in front extraction helicopter come and get it out. They came in with them acquiring the glass and I'm gonna beat your rope island grill the hook in it okay to ropes. We hooked on me find out of we pulled up going up through the canopy of the jungle, high ropes started to twist and rub. You know not and burn from the drugs head with clear Canopy ira rollover completely twist in Robinson and I was the tension off and then look at the helicopter riding in the second man and he thought of furniture. He talking shop with the pizza roll front of weight and he pulled himself out of the helicopter And under the two roof separated that dedication pass level, fellowmen and country I'll never forget that man and then we will still find it that they never shut up Wheel and it We landed in the same spot. My buddy we're taking to the hospital shortly there after you tired how was another staging area waiting for our next assignment when I heard on the radio something like a popcorn machine, then I heard the voice get us outta here get us out of here come in and get out quick chat is already operating who love he's. I don't know they haven't gave him the concert and I saw some helicopter pilot run to the flat land Extremely hot right behind. We saw a helicopter coming in land and had a door. Gunner slumped over weapon when helicopter landed and strap the door. The Michael Craig 19 years old. We just celebrated our nineteenth birthday in March. I credit him in my arms and his last words were my God, my mother and father Hi I'm pastor pilot who are the people on the ground. He said hey you said this at block and Co that none Commission offers save your life. You have the day remember actually ride. We roll good always got pepper chopped acres. Simons human and corner, so they wouldn't instant reaction ice awe a bag of medical supplies and picked up on over to my helicopter got on the helicopter. We got on with the father control of the God and needs and you can go in there. You can go in it's too hot Little no head or spend six hours in the him. You heard what the President read to start taking of her in the medal of honor He didn't tell you what I went through when he engagement in combat was hit them out. But the weapon my daughter lock after my last return back to the helicopter and I were boarded on how it all in my technique in my hand, we lifted up the helicopter had over to payload blow your phone on both sides of the helicopter. We landed and lock me in staging area and start unloading You started and to find the bodies they find out loader three dead enemies soldiers in that helicopter Idea and want to leave anybody behind My mission my mission was to recover the classified material so if anybody had it that he was on the helicopter So They let elected three sunshine and because I saw the look ariana they thought I was one of them. So let me lay right next to him and then we're putting us in body bags and I remember them. Uh we've been lifted and I was important to the body back here the different coming up and I know my God no, no. My shot because I had blood all over my face mind and blooded right up in my life and I couldn't come Because of the dog unlock and I can hear the paper coming up coming up and one of my buddies was doing the Mexican hat dance. He was young at the doctor that's that's really benefited doctor said sorry. There's. Nothing. I can do for Ho, my God, different this is just coming up. I would try to wiggle in my own blood and finally, I find out later. Jacob and him made the doctor at least to field my heart, be When I felt that hand on my chest I'm ada lucky shot I've ever made in my life has been the doctor face So the doctor said that I think you'll make it So I am, I was uh cleaned up put on the helicopter alongside with my buddy one of the guy that I tape. We got airborne. How I just said to myself hold on, but he just hold on we're gonna get some medical attention and his grip. Tightening up on me and then you let go God, why do you put me through this test line He helped me get paid me and our save him say this material now you take them away from me by and I was crying. I would moving so much at the co-pilot he have to look back and he thought that I would get up in prayer so he gets out of his seat get it been. It out and he's gonna do a track on me and I'm about to kick them out of the helicopter Not just to much for one day So we landed in the hospital and the long and I was willing to the operating room and it will be lifted from the operating table ice. Oh this nursing her hands and knees crime. Yelling asking God why do you do this to this man fly just crime and turn a little bit to my left. I saw the other operating table I'm and they had both legs and both arms permission. How pastor I woke up and award one of my buddies was laying next to me were so backed up. We couldn't all we have to worry about that told to make sure that we're still alive after a short while my buddy was transferred from there and I thought you die how was training for the Japan Patrick our an airplane that I would find in the back. We love to man and This nurse kept yelling at me than I did you're, not gonna die on me. I'm gonna picture every time we called you guys I'm gonna pick him on the picture. Boys. She can pinch me when I got to touch it. Our when I got to Japan and this put me into the operating room. They just rolled me again. I remember the doctor heard what in the world happened to you had blues padres lady catch me up there So, after I went back to 14 news from the convenience And I stayed in the hospital almost a year how continue with my career and then I was awarded with a medal I was dedicated myself to coming to Beach schools The civic groups to help anyone that I can help my life was spared for a reason and I hope there's, a good reading. Alot of people call me hero appreciate the title, but the real heroes are the one they gave their lives for this country The real heroes are wife, her mother's Above all, the heroes from the wonderland you know, hospital disabled for life and knows how bitch material heroes are. The future leaders of our country. These students, they're staying in school and learn to say no to drugs goes, are real situation You know there's a saying among the veterans for those who have fought for it. Life has a special flavor. The protected will never know you have never live. Tell you almost time and it is that's veteran that pray for peace, most of all, especially the wounded because we have to suffer the wounds of war I'm asked hundreds of times would you do it all over again In my 25 years in the military, I feel like I've been over paid for the service to my country They'll never be enough paper to print the money nor enough gold in Fort. Knox for me to have to keep from doing what I did I'm proud to be in America and even prouder of And I'm even prouder, that I learned the privilege to wear the Green beret I'll live by the motto of duty, honor country laid in general. Thank you very much. Thank you, God, bless you, and God, bless America